#witches' flight

[portraitofadumbassonfire]

Music for Art

Here are playlists I've made based on various paintings I've been fascinated by for a while now. The songs I've picked, for me, match the mood that each paintings gives me.

From right to left:

Galconda (1953) | Wanderer above the Sea of Fog (1818) | The Swing (1767) | Jacob Wrestling with the Angel (1876) | The Desperate Man (1843) | Love's Shadow | Soir Bleu (1914) | The Reluctant Bride (1866) | Witches' Flight (1798) | Ophelia (1851)

[acosmicvoyager]

Vuelo de Brujas (Witches' Flight) by Francisco de Goya, 1797-1798.

[thepatchycat]

*GUNDAMs your clones*

[shopwitchvamp]

Flight Maxi Skirt - This one goes out to everyone that's ever asked, "Hey! Witch Vamp! When are you gonna make a bat skirt?!!" Preorders are open now for everything from The Fall Collection! 🖤witchvamp.com🖤

[ceilidho]

Situationship!Ghost hits you with the “no wonder your single nobody wants to deal with psychotic ass” and then turns his notifs off- cut to an hour or two later and he’s got you bent over your kitchen counter sobbing his name while he says some shit like “nobody will ever get you better than me, got it?” (I need him in the worst way)

he needs someone that can handle his crazy ass and give it back tenfold lmaooo. you change your locks and phone number, maybe even move apartments (or go stay at an airbnb or something) without telling him because you had an argument the week before that he wouldn't apologize for and the anger burns in your throat so bad that you decide to just cut him off altogether if he wants to be an asshole about it.

cut to days later when he finally tracks you down, pounding on your door to let him in ("bird, open up the fucking door now or i'm breaking it down"), his voice sounding more desperate and harsher than you've ever heard it before because he's been awake for like 72 hours trying to find you.

[diana-andraste]

Flight II, Gunārs Binde, 1992

[notedchampagne]

i read princess floralinda and the 40 flight tower : first off FUCK THE TUMBLR POST that made me mistakenly believe this book had cannibalism in it. i am mournful to say that it did not.

despite this i enjoyed it a stupid amount and i think its a very entertaining read, especially if you share tazs sense of humor or like the variation in narrative styles throughout tlt. actually i think reading this book made me realize more why she wrote gtn and htn all [gestures] like that... tlt definitely has a larger number of memes but the way princess floralinda is written reminds me a lot of the original character-based humor you can see in gideons speech and just the general situational hilarity of things. i also think her take on a princess story is really delightful and sweet! and i didnt expect that amorphous, ambiguous kind of romance in it. its also very much like tlt in the manner that love is slowly present between the cracks in the story, but with tlt love IS the point of everything while in floralinda the love is a sickly ironic kind of development. it was like if stockholm syndrome was entertaining. A+.

i would recommend this mainly if you 1) liked mercymorn in htn 2) appreciate a good character development coming from a dumb princess, and 3) again, share that similar sense of horrific fucking humor taz has:

[r0ryy]

fresh Perennial drip for our favorite little hero <3

[splooosh]

“When heroes Gather, Part 2

Bob Layton - Pablo Marcos - John Romita Jr

[jutryst]

Playing the Ballad of the Witches Road (Lornas Version covered by the Chaos coven) on loop on my flight just in case so we don't crash cuz we already took off in turbulences and now just hit our 4th(!!!) turbulence that lasts longer than 5 minutes😌🙃

As tempting as it is, I don't really wanna meet Lady Death right now😅

[mercutiotakethewheel]

Kendra, inwardly: Omg I am so scared right now. I’m going to die here. This freakyass magical creatures about to do me in. And could do so easily, which I am imagining very vividly right now. Those are huge teeth. I am fighting god to hold it together right now. I don’t want to die. Why am I here? Just to suffer, every night I close my eyes and—

Kendra, outwardly: I cast vicious mockery.

[shopwitchvamp]

Flight Maxi Skirt with Pockets by Witch Vamp

Preorders are open now 🦇💕 🖤witchvamp.com🖤

[pratchettquotes]

The other snake instinctively turned to follow the movement, which is why instinct is not always the keynote to survival, because Magrat clubbed it on the back of the head. With the wand.

It sagged, losing shape as it fell.

The trouble with witches is that they'll never run away from things they really hate.

And the trouble with small furry animals in a corner is that, just occasionally, one of them's a mongoose.

Terry Pratchett, Witches Abroad *

*for the anon who asked me to hunt down this singular reference to a mongoose in one of the Witch books. Turns out it was from Witches Abroad, and it's a good teaching moment about the danger of assumptions.

[midwestbramble]

Trance States for Spirit Flight

Trance states are used in a lot of witchcraft practices, but especially those for spirit flight. This post will look at how these states translate in brain waves and what we are trying to achieve in our brains to accomplish our goal of spirit flight. Once we have an understanding of the feeling we are looking for it will be easier to use our techniques to get ourselves there.

⛧─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───⛧

Content:

Brain Waves for Trance States

Tips for ADHD

Conclusion

⛧─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───⛧

Brain Waves for Trance States

According to Introduction to EEG- and Speech-Based Emotion Recogintion, brain waves are "oscillating electrical voltages in the brain measuring just a few millionths of a volt." It goes on to say that the brain can give off more than one type of brain wave at a time and that each individual brain has different patterns that the five brain wave states could appear at. So one persons wave pattern for gamma would be different to another persons wave pattern for gamma.

The five brain wave states are:

Gamma (32 - 100 Hz)

The state in which concentration and problem-solving are achieved. It is associated with enlightenment as some Tibetan monks and Indian Yogi's are able to display it while meditating (Auryn, pg. 15). It happens during creative expression and our brain processes and recalls incredible amounts of information while in gamma (Orapello, Pg. 205-206).

Beta (16 - 31 Hz)

When we have a busy or active mind. This is the most common brain wave state, all others are considered trance states. This occurs when we are awake, alert, and concentrating (Auryn, pg. 15).

Alpha (8 - 15 Hz)

When our mind is at rest and reflective. This can happen when we are meditating, visualizing, or learning. It has access to the subconscious mind and is most associated with psychic ability as well as being linked to hypnosis (Auryn, pg. 15). Some believe this is the proper state for magic; and ritual, dancing, chanting, and grounding and centering happen to be perfect catalysts for inducing it. Alpha also improves our memory, which allows inspiration and clarity of thought (Orapello, pg. 61).

Theta (4 - 7 Hz)

When we are drowsy and close to sleep. It is also associated with light sleep, deep meditation, deep dreaming, vivid imagery, and high levels of inner awareness. We become completely unware of the external world while in this state (Auryn, pg. 15). In theta, we have one foot on either side of consciousness and are ripe for possession or aspecting (such as drawing down the goddess) (Orapello, pg. 204). This is the state we want to access for spirit flight.

Delta (0 - 3 Hz)

This occurs during deep dreamless sleep and the deepest states of meditation. During this time our bodies and minds do most of their healing and regeneration (Auryn, pg. 15). This occurs just before REM sleep.

⛧─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───⛧

Tips for ADHD

I myself have ADHD so these tips will come from my own experience, though I have some links that may be helpful in my references found below. Also keep in mind, I am currently unmedicated due to personal issues. Mileage may vary.

The main goal we are trying to achieve is extreme relaxation. So lucky for us, ADHDers is that we aren't looking to concentrate necessarily. Yes we have a goal we are trying to achieve, but the more we TRY the harder it will be to actually achieve. We need to practice mentally letting go.

Meditation

For me, a basic meditation practice has helped tremendously. This was suggested to me by a therapist I was seeing in college. This isn't guided though I've found using apps that have timed meditations helps me properly gauge timing without having to think about it, they have a nice little chime at the end too. A meditation that has you simply separate yourself from your thoughts, observe them, and then let them pass by can be difficult for those with ADHD... at first. I struggled with letting a thought pass by without going down several different paths of thought. But with practice, and being kind to myself when I would catch it, eventually exercised my brain muscle to the point it became easier and easier. I would do this for 10 minutes a day (life has been crazy, I should make time for this again I can tell the difference).

Movement and Music

For those of us that don't just have a hyper mind but also a hyper body, swaying gently and creating a sensation of being rocked by waves can help keep the jitters away. Doing some physical activity before hand such as running can keep away the bigger bursts or energy, or dancing is a great way to enter a relaxed and exhausted trance state if that's something you enjoy doing. In fact, lyric-less music can be a great way to keep your focus. I personally, find music with lyrics to be distracting. I end up getting taken away with the story of the song rather then paying attention to my goal. There are many instrumental playlists on Spotify and YouTube that can fit with a witchy aesthetic (which can help keep from getting distracted). Movements tend to stop once the spirit has left the body, though a light sway may continue.

Visual Distractions

If you're not using the dance method, keeping your eyes closed while using the techniques in posts to follow can help to avoid visual distractions. Our minds tend to be louder in the dark, so the meditation advice above could be useful as an exercise to help with that. Or if you have a therapist you can brainstorm other ways to quiet the mind with them as well. If you're into art or tarot/oracle cards, there are also some interesting techniques allowing you to travel through the cards imagery (I suggest the book "A Broom at Midnight" by Roger J. Horne for more details). Though this technique may only work for those who have these as a hyperfocus or have already trained their brain to quiet.

Stims

Stims tend to be more associated with autism (and thus these tips may work for them as well), though I find that ADHD can provide some as well. If you tend to vocal stim, try chanting or intoning. It doesn't have to be words if you find that too distracting. If you have a common vocal stim, you can add that into a rhythmic chant or tone. If there's something you do with your hands, try to make a rhythmic display with it by flicking it out at certain intervals or adding it to part of a swaying sensation. Whatever makes sense for your personal stim. Just as with the movement section above, this may stop once the spirit has left the body. If you find that you bring yourself back too soon once you have left the body due to a stim, be kind to yourself first. It's ok. Stims can happen due to stress and overstimulation (good or bad) and I consider it a way of my body continuing to protect me. Something happened (good or bad) that I should process. If you left in the middle of a conversation with a spirit, you can give an offering to that spirit if you feel it is appropriate.

If I missed anything you struggle with due to ADHD, feel free to reach out. I'm not an expert but I could also be missing something here that I've experienced as well. If I don't have an answer, I will try to help you find one.

⛧─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───⛧

Conclusion

Our brains are constantly cycling through trance stats every day. Learning to control which state we are in can help us with our magic and our spirit flight. But not all brains are the same. Hopefully these tips help those who are struggling, and understanding what we are trying to achieve helps those who don't know what to look for.

References:

Psychic Witch by Mat Auryn

Besom, Stang, and Sword by Christopher Orapello and Tara Love Maguire

Clinical Application of Mindfulness-Oriented Meditation: A Preliminary Study in Children with ADHD

How to Focus With ADHD

The Influence of Music on Concentration in individuals with ADHD

[infenza-dreams]

Hoverview Veil!

[xephia]